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Pool Water Chemistry Factors

Pool Water Chemistry Factors

A seemingly simple question with a not-so-simple answer. "What do I need to use in my pool to keep it clean and safe?" Every swimming pool or body of water is different and has it's own unique chemistry and challenges. Hopefully this blog post will answer some questions about what it takes to maintain a healthy and clean pool.

Many factors affect the chemistry of your pool. Aeration, bather load, weather, and source water just to name a few. Let's dig deeper into some of these in order to have a better understanding of how water chemistry can be affected. 

Aeration causes a rise in the pH level of your pool. Water features such as fountains, waterfalls, or slides cause turbulence. This turbulence causes the aqueous CO2 (carbon dioxide) to outgas. This outgassing causes a rise in pH. So if you have constant aeration occurring in your pool, you will probably need to add muriatic acid frequently. Now, this can also be used as a tool to raise pH when needed with no change in total alkalinity (TA). For example; your pH is low and your total alkalinity is high? Add the required amount of acid to lower TA while at the same time aerating to cause a rise in pH!

Bather load obviously can cause changes and needs to a pool. Body oils, sunblock, lotions, dogs, all add organic and/or inorganic material to the pool. And let's be honest, we all have seen someone drink a 12 pack of beer and never get out to go to the restroom. No one has a bladder that big! It's good practice to add chlorine after a high bather load to bump that level up to around 4ppm. Chlorine does a great job as a sanitizer. In order to remove the inorganic material the use of enzymes is highly beneficial. Be aware though, enzymes should not be added at the same time you superchlorinate or "shock" as it's effectiveness will be reduced or eliminated.  

Algae can grow in cold water but it thrives in warm, unhealthy water. Rain can cause dilution and pH fluctuations UV rays break down the chlorine level faster than cloudy, cool days. Again, consider superchlorination after rain. And keep stabilizer levels within range (30-50ppm) in order to protect chlorine from UV ray loss. There will be another blog post specifically about stabilizer (CYA) in the near future. 

Probably one of the most important yet overlooked factors in maintaining your pool is the chemistry of your source water. Think about it, the water you fill your pool with and add during those hot, dry summer days will undoubtedly alter the water chemistry you've worked so hard to maintain. If you know the baseline of your fill water, you will be more prepared and proactive in managing those expected changes. K5 Pool Supplies and Service offers professional, comprehensive water analysis to our customers at no charge.

Although this barely scratches the surface of water chemistry, we hope it helped make things a bit more clear. Remember- don't underestimate the power of chlorine! We can help you determine which type of chlorine is best for your pool. Reach out to us at https://k5poolsupplies.com/ for your pool needs whether you're a DIY type of pool owner or need some help. 

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